Fraud warning for on-line holiday bookers

People looking to book their summer holidays online are being warned to stay alert and do their research to prevent fraudsters ruining their getaways.

Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, has launched a holiday fraud campaign urging the public to look out for suspiciously enticing offers online.

New data shows that more than £11million was lost to holiday related fraud in the UK last year – with more than 6,000 reported victims.

Despite a fall from the previous year, the average loss per victim remains at more than £1,800.

Classic signs of fraudulent deals include payments by bank transfers and prices that are simply too good to be true.

PC Kynam Moore, of Nottinghamshire Police’s Cyber Crime Unit, said:

“We know that a lot of people begin booking holidays at this time of year as they search for sunshine abroad.

“Unfortunately, we also know that this is a prime time for fraudsters and scammers to strike by promoting fake holidays online – often at suspiciously low prices.

“So before clicking that ‘book’ button, our colleagues at Action Fraud are encouraging everyone to do some research to make sure a deal is genuine.

“To this end people should always be looking out for the usual logos, like ABTA, ABTOT and ATOL.

“In addition they should also remember that things that appear too good to be true usually are.

“So, when booking your summer holiday, please remember to Stop! Think Fraud – and use Action Fraud’s advice to stay safe online.”

What can you do to protect yourself from holiday fraud?

Key things to remember include:

• Check the travel company is legitimate: about to book a holiday? Do some research first to check that the company is legitimate, especially if you haven’t used them before. Use consumer websites, or reviews from people (or organisations) that you trust.
• Look for the logos: look for the ABTA, ABTOT or ATOL logos on the company’s website. If you’re unsure, you can use the links below to verify membership:
• ABTA - https://www.abta.com
• ABTOT - https://www.abtot.com/abtot-members-directory/
• ATOL - https://www.atol.org
• Use a credit card to pay: use a credit card for payments (if you have one). Many of these protect online purchases as part of the Consumer Credit Act.
• Only provide required details at checkout: when making your payment, only fill in the mandatory details (often marked with an asterisk) such as your address. Unless you think you’ll become a regular customer, don't create an account for the store.
• Keep your accounts secure: create a strong and unique password for your email. If 2-step verification is available, always enable it.
• Watch out for suspicious links: whether it’s in an email or social media post, be wary of promotions for unbelievably good holiday offers. If you receive a suspicious email, report it by forwarding it to: [email protected]

Find out how to protect yourself from fraud: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk

If you’ve lost money or provided your financial information to someone, notify your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.